Best salt mix for anemones

[Enyo]

I'm curious about what some advanced anemone keepers like to use for salt mix. I have been using Red Sea Coral Pro in my tank for some time now. For an anemone only tank i'm wondering what the effects (good and bad) of elevated CAL/ALK/MAG equate to in terms of health and growth. I've thought about switching to a "normal" salt like the red sea blue bucket, but the savings are negligible and I fear it might shock my inhabitants.

Anyone have links to scientific articles or farmer's first hand experience on adverse effects?

 

[R33f3r]

I have been using IO and IO Reef crystals for 12 years and have seen no adverse effects on nems. As long as you mix it thoroughly there shouldn't be any problems.

 

[Cliff519]

I'm also using a good quality reef crystal and RO water. My BTA and carpet are healthy and growing

 

[elegance coral]

I used RC from the time it came out, until about a year ago. The quality of the salt just completely changed. When I mixed up new SW, there would be so much brown nasty stuff in the mixing container, I'd have to run the water through a filter sock before putting it in the tank. Now I'm using Brightwell salt, and I don't like it. I don't know what I'm going to do, but I have to find a new salt. It will probably be hard to find one that holds a candle to the old RC.

 

[Enyo]

For an anemone only tank i'm wondering what the effects (good and bad) of elevated CAL/ALK/MAG equate to in terms of health and growth.

No offense to any of you, but I'm sure there are thousands upon thousands of people that have healthy anemones using IO or reef crystals. I'm looking to dig deeper into the subject and I'm hoping someone will chime in that has anemone farms or can provide a link to a scientific article or forum post.

 

[garygb]

I've had my magnificas almost 10 years, using IO and Reefcrystals.

 

[DeathWish302]

For an anemone only tank i'm wondering what the effects (good and bad) of elevated CAL/ALK/MAG equate to in terms of health and growth.

No offense to any of you, but I'm sure there are thousands upon thousands of people that have healthy anemones using IO or reef crystals. I'm looking to dig deeper into the subject and I'm hoping someone will chime in that has anemone farms or can provide a link to a scientific article or forum post.

Why? Why strain your brain or go against the grain when something has been introduced and has worked for all those decades (IO).

I agree RC has changed and I'm running a mix of TM & IO as a result...

 

[Enyo]

It's not a strain on my brain at all? If you cant provide any help, don't post. Pretty simple.

If I wanted playskool answers on what people think is the best salt I would go to nano-reef.

 

[ILLiDaN]

No need for the hostility guys.
For those using reef crystals.
The new batches...even though there seems to be more gunk.
Has it adversely affected the aquaria?

 

[SkullV]

If I wanted playskool answers on what people think is the best salt I would go to nano-reef.

In any case, I have a brand new box of RC. Mixes 100% clear within 10 minutes at 76° to 1.026. No residue on the bucket at all, even when left overnight without any powerhead.

 

[DeathWish302]

It's not a strain on my brain at all? If you cant provide any help, don't post. Pretty simple.

If I wanted playskool answers on what people think is the best salt I would go to nano-reef.

You posed the question....

I'm curious about what some advanced anemone keepers like to use for salt mix.

For an anemone only tank i'm wondering what the effects (good and bad) of elevated CAL/ALK/MAG equate to in terms of health and growth.

If your changing roughly 1-2% daily you will have negligible swings from elevated levels. Then raises the question is this induced by you or the salt? If it's salt, again the small WC is the best approach to minimize shock.

I'm looking to dig deeper into the subject and I'm hoping someone will chime in that has anemone farms or can provide a link to a scientific article or forum post.

As stated in many other posts about salt, the formulations change so quickly that a true analysis on performance or 'repeatability' from bucket/box to bucket/box is questionable.

I don't know that the attitude is from, but if you use the search function you would find a wealth of salt knowledge in the chemistry forum. Pretty simple you've just stated a question w/o any background on what your true problem is or what your trying to solve.

I have to ask why the attitiude? I'm willing to give advice, but open-ended questions get open-ended answers.

No need for the hostility guys.
For those using reef crystals.
The new batches...even though there seems to be more gunk.
Has it adversely affected the aquaria?

No adverse affects, just not too thrilled with cleaning the mixing can every few batches. I've also started wondering about getting away from the added RC trace elements such as Randy. I'm a little concerned with the elevated level.

 

[elegance coral]

No need for the hostility guys.
For those using reef crystals.
The new batches...even though there seems to be more gunk.
Has it adversely affected the aquaria?

I had no problem with the salt, other than the nasty brown stuff. The brown slimy stuff was bad though. I mix up 55 gallons at a time. All the surfaces of the container would be covered in this brown stuff. Even on the surface of the water. I switched to Brightwell, and all my coraline faded, and my SPS seem to have stopped growing. I'll probably go back to RC, but I've got to find a better alternative.

 

[SkullV]

I have to ask why the attitiude? I'm willing to give advice, but open-ended questions get open-ended answers.

In all fairness to the OP, it was you who brought the attitude into the thread with the "strain on the brain" comment.

 

[LesMartin]

FWIW I use Tropic Marin Pro Reef. It mixes to near NSW levels, clean and clear within an hour or so of going into the mixing bucket. I have red and green haddonis, both of which have spawned. I don't see the need for the highly elevated levels of alkalinity, calcium and magnesium that the new Red Sea Coral Pro has.

 

[Enyo]

You posed the question....

It was directed towards advanced anemone keepers i.e. people who cut/keep hundreds of them. Not towards the likes of you. L2comprehend.

If your changing roughly 1-2% daily you will have negligible swings from elevated levels. Then raises the question is this induced by you or the salt? If it's salt, again the small WC is the best approach to minimize shock.

*** are you high? What are you even blabbering about? The salt I have been using for 6 months has elevated levels of CAL/ALK/MAG. Do me a favor and leave this thread, you are ruining it.

As stated in many other posts about salt, the formulations change so quickly that a true analysis on performance or 'repeatability' from bucket/box to bucket/box is questionable.

Again, *** are you ranting about? This has nothing to do with the long term effects of elevated CAL/ALK/MAG on anemones.

I don't know that the attitude is from, but if you use the search function you would find a wealth of salt knowledge in the chemistry forum. Pretty simple you've just stated a question w/o any background on what your true problem is or what your trying to solve.

I have to ask why the attitiude? I'm willing to give advice, but open-ended questions get open-ended answers.

HOLY #$%@, GO AWAY. My question wasnt open ended at all, please do the following:

1. Read the original post.

2. Realize how you turned this thread into garbage by turning everything into a debate and trying to prove your e-staghorn is bigger than everyone elses

3. Leave. You have nothing to offer me.

 

[DeathWish302]

Really sure your not from NR?
I don't have the effort to continue this nonsense. You never have to worry about a post from me again.

Carry on.....:wavehand:

 

[EdKruzel]

I've had great luck and consistency with Tropic Marin and Oceanic; consistency is the key and I've had problems in the past with IO. Slightly off topic, for anemones, gorgonians and goniopora, I had beautiful growth and color when mixing with treated tap water over using RO/Di. There has been numerous trials and errors (allot of errors) over my past 30yrs in the hobby. :headwallblue:

Best of Luck...

 

[VGT]

Who's this Enyo crybaby?